Is the well specced and well priced Toyota Corolla Cross duo better than the upcoming Proton X70 MC1 and venerable Honda CR-V in its Black Edition livery?
2022 promises to be an exciting year for C-segment SUV buyers. We've just had the launch of the CKD Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, we're going to see an updated Proton X70 (MC1) possibly around August, and Honda launched at the tail end of last year the CR-V Black Edition, a blacked-out angry-looking version of the popular SUV.
If you're considering purchasing any of these vehicles, you've come to the right place to check out how they stack up against each other. No, it's not unfair to put a hybrid vehicle in this matchup, because it is a C-segment SUV, they fall in the same price bracket and it offers its own pros and cons, we've also, however, included the highest non-hybrid variant of the 2022 Corolla Cross in this comparison to paint a bigger picture.
| Vehicles |
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid |
Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V |
Proton X70 MC1 Premium |
Honda CR-V Black Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | RM137k | RM129k |
RM123k (Estimate) |
RM162k |
| Engine |
1.8-litre ICE + Electric Motor |
1.8-litre N/A |
1.5-litre turbo (Expected) |
1.5-litre turbo |
| Power (PS) | 122 (total output) | 142 | 177 | 193 |
| Torque (Nm) |
ICE engine – 142 E-Motor – 163 (a parallel hybrid has no combined output as the distribution of torque between the engine and the motor is varied so both run in their optimum operating range as much as possible) |
172 | 255 | 243 |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
7-Speed Dual Clutch |
CVT |
| Driven Wheels | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| 440 litres | 487 litres | 515 litres | 522 litres | |
| Infotainment |
9″ Touch Screen Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
9″ Touch Screen Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
8″ Touch Screen with Screen Mirroring |
7″ Touch Screen Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Airbags | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Safety |
ABS Stability Control Auto Emergency Braking Lane Keep Assist Active Cruise Control Blind Spot Assist 360 Camera Auto High Beam Front Collision Warning |
ABS Stability Control Auto Emergency Braking Lane Keep Assist Active Cruise Control Blind Spot Assist 360 Camera Auto High Beam Front Collision Warning |
ABS Stability Control Auto Emergency Braking Front Collision Warning Lane Keep Assist Active Cruise Control Blind Spot Assist 360 Camera Auto High Beam Front Collision Warning |
ABS Stability Control Auto Emergency Braking Front Collision Warning Lane Keep Assist Active Cruise Control Blind Spot Assist Multi-Angle Camera Auto High Beam Front Collision Warning |
If we look at the pricing of the Toyotas, it's just amazing to see how well priced the Corolla Cross is. To say that the Honda CR-V has more safety features would be inaccurate because the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and V both have the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driving assistance, which rivals those of the Honda CR-V with its Honda Sensing.
We suppose the only thing that the Honda CR-V has going for it over the Corolla Cross duo is its higher power output and lower road tax, but the rest of its features are quite comparable with the Toyota Corolla Cross.
Of course, if it's value for money that you are going for, then there's no denying that the facelift national SUV trumps every single SUV here. It has power, a good amount of features and is priced well – but the question always remains, can it really trump Toyota and Honda's pedigree and build quality?
It's also quite interesting to see that the X70 is the only one with a dual-clutch gearbox with the rest preferring a CVT type transmission. For daily driving, we would definitely take CVTs over DCTs, especially the one on the Honda as it is one of the best we have ever experienced. It's just really smooth and doesn't behave like a typical CVT transmission.
The Honda CR-V is also the largest car out of the pack, and it also comes with Honda's clever interior packaging which makes the interior room bigger than it is.
Even when all of this is considered, it's just hard to get away from the fact that the Toyotas are well priced. Yes it might not have a powerful engine like the CR-V, but if speed is your thing then an SUV is probably the wrong type of vehicle for you.
They are all good options in their own right, so the choice is totally down to you and what you prioritise in a vehicle. If you asked me I would opt for the newest of the bunch.
Keyword: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid vs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V vs 2022 Proton X70 MC1 vs 2022 Honda CR-V Black Edition